I have traveled to more than 40 countries with children from different religions, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. One thing I have learned is that youth from all backgrounds are looking for the same things, even though they may have different labels or titles. Everyone wants to feel loved and accepted. They want to feel heard and involved in their spiritual community, and they are all looking for a higher purpose. Everyone wants to belong—to be a real part of something meaningful.
My work has allowed me to engage with youth with the same belief system, but the Dignity Project has given me the opportunity to be exposed to youth with different beliefs and values.
So many of the problems that arise between communities are due to a lack of acceptance and tolerance to different beliefs. Some people cannot stand examining ideas that do not align with their faith and values, which makes them immediately reject the person in front of them. This is something we need to change, given the constant diversity we are surrounded by. And in the end, we need to remember that the purpose of any religion is to find a greater purpose and live in peace, while sharing our beliefs with others. So why not be more accepting and tolerant?
On a personal level, the more important question for me now that the Dignity Project is over is how to find time for this type of work in the midst of my super busy life. I have been struggling lately to strike a balance between spending time for this cause—positively contributing to building more understanding, open-minded communities—while my personal responsibilities and duties strictly within my own religious tradition increase every day. I keep reminding myself that unless more people step up to nurture these intentionally diverse communities, we will end up with a world that is more intense, more dangerous, and increasingly difficult to navigate. Accordingly, it has become a moral imperative for me and anyone who has received the chance to taste the beauty of interreligious conversations to continue to put in the effort to educate the next generation with the hope for a better world in the near future.